very sad news

[tangomonster]

I posted on Monday that we were going to get the ball rolling for ER, handing it in the paperwork to DH's employer
for his conversion health insurance. All the employer ahd to do was sign it to say that he would no longer be getting insurance through them as of June 30th. HR said they ahd never signed such a thing and called up corporate headquarters to see how to handle it. Corporate HR isn't sure how to handle it and thinks that first he would need to go to COBRA before converting (even though the insurance company---United---told him that he could convert without going through COBRA and sent us the paperwork.

We are scared to go the COBRA route because if for some reason we didn't get a conversion policy, DH would not qualify for any other insuarnce (considered uninsurable, even though his health is actually very good---just a few doctor's visits a year and some meds. We can't live with the risk of him having no insurance from age 53 to 65 when (and if) Medicare kicks in.

Our next chance is in 5 yeasr when he is 57 and has been with his company for 15 years. At that point, he can be get the company's insurance (just paying 100% of the premium). This would be better and cheaper coverage than the conversion policy, but it will require 5 more years...

To say that we're despondent over this turn of events is an understatement!

Any comments/suggestions from Martha or anyone else?

So---it looks like we (or at least DH) will

 

[Martha]

In Georgia, it looks like  after using COBRA you are either entitled to a conversion policy and if one isn't available, the state provides a mechanism for you to buy a different policy.  According to Pilzer's online guide, he says for Georgia:
HIPAA-eligible individuals: Applicants must elect and exhaust available COBRA coverage. If the applicant is coming off a self-insured plan, the state assigns a private insurer to provide individual health insurance. If the applicant is coming off an employer plan provided by an insurance company, the insurer is required to convert coverage to an individual policy.


However, it seems like you just have to get your insurance company and your husband's employer to communicate.  Any way to get both the insurer and your HR person on a conference call together to figure this out?  If the insurance company doesn't require using COBRA, the company shouldn't care one way or another.  A resolution should be able to be reached. 

You should also read this site: http://www.healthinsurance.org/georgia/default.lasso and for more information, contact the Georgia Insurance Department Consumer Services Division at 1-800-656-2298 or (404) 656-2070.




pm me if you want to talk more.